The Chic Kitchen Backsplash That's Much Easier To Clean Than Tile

Routinely wiping down your kitchen backsplash is necessary to maintain a clean environment and sustain the quality of your finishes. However, this becomes incredibly daunting if you have a backsplash designed with small tiles and endless lines of grout to scrub down. Luckily, there is an interior design trend that can make this chore easier; slab backsplashes. It's a simple technique you've likely noticed before, where the kitchen countertop and backsplash are unified with a large slab of the same material — typically marble. However, you can always make things more interesting by mixing different finishes, such as a wood countertop with a porcelain slab backsplash.

Why does this make cleaning easier? There are fewer or no grout lines! Imagine this; a cleaning day where all you'll need is a cloth and a safe cleaning solution to wipe away grease and grime off a smooth surface — no brushes or scrubbing needed. Plus, this design is timeless, so your kitchen will always be in style as long as you properly take care of it. However, there are a few cleaning techniques to be aware of if you're ready to make this time-saving change.

If you decide to use a slab of marble for your kitchen backsplash, there are a few crucial maintenance requirements to be aware of. First, due to its porous nature, marble must be routinely sealed to prevent stains from setting in and altering the color of the material. Although this may sound cumbersome, this task only needs to be done once a year — a chore we believe is worth the effort for preserving the beauty of your kitchen.

Now, when it comes to weekly maintenance, the process is even easier. In order to remove dust or food debris, you can simply give your backsplash a fresh shine by wiping it down with a soft sponge dipped in a mixture of warm water and dish soap. If you have a few stubborn marks, a cleaning solution of baking soda and water should do the trick. Common cleaning substances you should avoid using on marble include bleach, vinegar, ammonia, and citrus-based solutions that can permanently stain the surface.

If you decide to install a porcelain slab backsplash, the maintenance requirements are even more relaxed. Unlike marble, porcelain is not a porous material, so it won't soak in any gunk that may splatter onto the surface while cooking dinner. This also means it doesn't require yearly sealing to prevent stains. So, you're only task is to routinely clean the material to maintain a fresh and clean appearance. Porcelain slabs are also offered in marble patterns, providing homeowners with a natural look without worry.

When it comes time to clean your porcelain backsplash, you can create a cleaning solution containing one part distilled white vinegar and one part warm water. Pour it into a spray bottle and use it to cover the area before wiping it down with a microfiber cloth, then make sure to rinse your backsplash with clean water. And similarly to marble, avoid using cleanings solutions containing ammonia or other strong chemical solutions that may damage glazed finishes.